Port Washington apologizes for students' use of controversial photo used to taunt Nicolet star Jalen Johnson

A photocopied image of Nicolet standout Jalen Johnson that made it appear he was wearing blackface.(Photo: Photos courtesy Angela Hamilton)

During a boys basketball game Wednesday, dozens of Port Washington High School students held a photocopied image of Nicolet standout Jalen Johnson that made it appear he was wearing blackface.

A photo of the scene has gone viral on social media and sparked outrage among many throughout the Milwaukee-area basketball community for the racist overtones such images represent. Further, blackface has been something of a national discussion point recently in the wake of reporting on a racist photo in Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's medical school yearbook.

At Port Washington, the incident sparked an apology Thursday morning from the school’s principal, Eric Burke.

“It’s disappointing,” he said. “We’re going to make this right. Apologies have to be made. As a principal, I apologize for our students' actions, but our students are going to be involved in a sincere apology for what happened and the people who made this happen, there are going to be consequences.”

Later Thursday the Port Washington school district issued a statement in which Burke furthered expressed "strong disappointment" in the incident. He also said one student had been suspended for his role. Burke also expressed disappointment that a parent had been involved in the printing of the signs.

"Even if nothing bad was intended, the conduct sends a bad message, intended or not," the statement read. "We at the Port Washington-Saukville School District teach acceptance and respect, and this goes against the mission of our district to educate all students on the importance and value of respecting others. This is an opportunity for all of us to learn to be more accepting of others and embrace our diversity. This conduct can be viewed as harmful and hateful. We condemn such behavior because this is not representative of the values of our District.

Port Washington students hold up photographs that appear as if Nicolet basketball player Jalen Johnson is in blackface.(Photo: Photos courtesy Angela Hamilton)

“Our students have expressed an interest in apologizing to the Nicolet student-athlete and the Nicolet fans for last night’s incident. We are glad that our students feel that way because they should know that these actions were wrong and that there are consequences to this harmful behavior. We hope this incident can serve as a teaching moment for students and the entire school community on the effects and lasting impact of inappropriate conduct.

“We continue to investigate this incident and gather more facts. At this time, one student has been suspended in connection with this conduct. As the investigation continues, we will determine if other appropriate consequences are needed. One thing that is needed is for all of us to have a better understanding of the world around us and to respect the fact that we are all different.”

Jalen’s father, Roderick, said the family would not comment about what happened Wednesday. Nicolet Superintendent Robert Kobylski issued a statement that said the picture was taken from Johnson's Instagram account and that he was wearing a charcoal facial mask to care for his skin.

"I cannot speak to the motivation or intent the Port Washington students had in displaying this photo, whether a harmless skin-care prank or a more deeply troubling, racially motivated scenario," Kobylski's statement read.

"I can attest, however, to the fact that Jalen is more than a tremendous athlete: he is a fine, upstanding young man and deserves to be treated with respect and courtesy by all students and people, no matter what bench they are rooting for.

"My expectation is that Nicolet students always display respect, upstanding character and courtesy to one another and to students from other schools in sports, and in everyday interactions. I also expect that Nicolet students receive the same treatment from students at other schools."

Johnson, one of the nation's top players, has often been the source of opposing fans’ attention.

ESPN ranks Johnson as the third-best prospect in the 2020 class. He has received scholarship offers from most, if not all, of the nation’s top programs.

He and his younger brother, Kobe, made news last summer when they announced they were leaving Sun Prairie High School and transferring to Nicolet, a move that was criticized by some.

Despite the distraction Wednesday, Johnson still recorded a triple double — 10 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists — in a 75-40 win.

Burke first heard about the incident Wednesday night. From his understanding of the event, the students didn’t reveal the picture until Johnson went to the free throw line. The student section is right behind the basket.

Burke said the pictures were quickly taken from the students.

“What (athletic director) Thad (Gabrielse) told me this morning is that as soon as they found out about it, they started to take it down, within a minute or two,” Burke said. “What they found, too, is that there were a lot of pictures made. It was dealing with it at first and then if anything else came up they dealt with it right away.”

Burke said a Port Washington student made copies of the picture and then handed them out in the student section and that the students kept them out of sight until Johnson went to the free throw line.

While the Johnsons declined an interview request for this story, Jalen Johnson did respond on Twitter, retweeting a tweet that called the incident despicable and adding a brief comment.